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Nielsen, Bailey, Strome score in shootout as Islanders beat Brodeur in his possible final NJ start

Islanders 3, Devils 2 (SO)

Ryan Strome #18 of the New York Islanders of the New York Islanders scores on a spin-o-rama in the shootout against Martin Brodeur #30 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Photo: (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK, N.J. — Frans Nielsen, Josh Bailey and Ryan Strome scored in the shootout, and the New York Islanders beat the New Jersey 3-2 in what might have been Devils goalie Martin Brodeur’s final start.

Devils coach Pete DeBoer hasn’t said whether the soon-to-be 42 year-old Brodeur will start the season finale against Boston at home on Sunday.

Brodeur, the NHL career leader in wins (687) and shutouts (124) in a 20-year career with New Jersey, is in the last season of his contract. He won three Stanley Cup titles with the Devils.

Cory Schneider is in line to be the Devils’ No. 1 goalie of the future.

New Jersey Devils right wing Jaromir Jagr, left, of the Czech Republic, misses a shot against New York Islanders goalie Anders Nilsson, of Sweden. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New Jersey has lost all 13 shootouts this season and has dropped an NHL-record 17 straight, dating to last season.

Ryan Carter and Patrik Elias scored for the Devils. Anders Lee and Strome had regulation goals for the Islanders in a matchup of teams that failed to make the playoffs this season.

The Islanders put on a show in the shootout against Brodeur, who made 28 saves through overtime.

NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 11: Ryan Strome #18 of the New York Islanders celebrates his third period goal against the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Nielsen snapped a shot past Brodeur on New York’s first try, and Damien Brunner tied it 1-1 with a shot high into the net against Anders Nilsson, who had 25 saves.

Bailey and Strome then dazzled the crowd, skating in on Brodeur, doing 360 turns in front of him and beating the goalie with backhand shots.

Jaromir Jagr lost the puck on the Devils’ second attempt, giving New York the win.

New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) blocks a shot by New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) during the third period. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

The Islanders had tied it 2-2 with a power-play goal by Strome 19 seconds into the third period. Nielsen found Strome coming down the right side for a shot into the top corner that gave him his seventh goal of the season.

The rest of the period belonged to the goalies.

Brodeur stopped Casey Cizikas on a breakaway, and the four-time Vezina Trophy winner made a snapping glove save on Colin McDonald.

Nilsson stopped a breakaway by Jagr, a rebound attempt by Dainius Zubrus, and a late chance on a wrist shot by Jagr.

The opening minutes of overtime were just as exciting with Nilsson withstanding four Devils whacking at a loose puck in the crease. When the Islanders eventually cleared it, Brock Nelson got a breakaway, only to be stopped by Brodeur.

New York had all four shots in the extra five minutes, thanks in part to a power play.

NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 11: Anders Nilsson #45 of the New York Islanders makes the third period save against the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Limited to a shot in the opening 10 minutes of the game, the Islanders grabbed the lead on their second shot. Nielsen poked the puck off the stick of Jagr, and Lee got the puck at centre ice.

The rookie skated into the Devils zone and beat Brodeur to the corner at 10:04.

New Jersey needed less than a minute to tie it with a goal from the fourth line.

Stephen Gionta sent the puck behind the Islanders net. Steve Bernier threw a pass out front, and Carter got inside defenceman Kevin Czuczman for a slam dunk on Nilsson.

Elias put New Jersey ahead 2-1 with 9 seconds left in the first period, taking a pass from Travis Zajac and beating Nilsson with a snap shot from between the circles.